Minutes
Fraser Valley Diversity and Immigration Partnership Council
September 15, 2016 · 2pm to 4pm
Present / RegretsHardeep Sidhu -Chair
Gugan Sidhu – Recorder
Lia Bishop
Danielle Nazarewich
Manpreet Grewal
Kanta Naik
Balbir Gill
Sanjeev Nand
Ajay Kaushal
Lorne Owen
Sue Federspiel
Hillary Russell
Camila Boisvert
Bharati Sandhu
Nancy Merritt
Nicola Mooney / Tina Stewart
Scot Frisky
Stephen Piper, Alternate Nicola Mooney
John Potts, Alternate Nancy Merritt
Dave Loewen
Mary Taneilian
Ghizlane Laghzaoui
Allan Asaph
Alda Messiah
Dave Sidhu
Meeting called 2:02pm
1. Opening & Introductions
a. Council Updates
i. Resignations
Susan MacLevy has stepped down from the council but remains in our knowledge network.
Kate Collins has resigned from her position at LCSS and will no longer sit on the council.
ii. New Partners
LCSS Executive Director, Sanjeev Nand
MCC Interim Director of Program, Lorne Owen
Mental Health and Substance Use, Manager of Clinical Operations, Ajay Kaushal
Chair moved Guest Presentation by Nimrita Bains, India 2 Canada Program, forward due to her time constraints.
India 2 Canada program is based in Chandigarh, india. The program provides pre-arrival guidance to, housing, job market, school systems etc. to those that have been approved for permanent residence visa in Canada. Clients receive correct information, are more prepared, leading to less stress and anxiety. Within 9 months the India 2 Canada program has served 175 clients, 90% of them were professionals. Referrals to this program occur through the High Commissions.
2. Approve Agenda
a. Motion was made by Sue Federspiel and second to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
3. Approve Minutes
a. Motion was made by Camilla Boisvert to approve the April 4th, 2016 minutes and second. Motion carried.
4. Project Recap year 1,2,3) and Moving Forward
a. Hardeep shared the recap of the Fraser Valley Diversity and Immigrant Partnership Council within the first 2 years
b. Danielle shared a 3 year proposal was submitted during year 2, but was put on hold. Year 3 has been a interim year, (continuation of year 2), secretariat will be soon going into contract negotiations.
c. The facilitated October 18th meeting will revise our Terms of Reference and assess how the council would like to move forward within the next 3 years.
5. Roundtable & Community Updates
a. Hardeep Sidhu – Did a presentation to the Chilliwack LIP on Abbotsford community findings and partnership council
b. Danielle – Labour Market update on behalf of Alda and Allan: Working on Canada Jobs Grant. Focus will be put on the Refugee and Vulnerable Persons Stream. Allan is working on hosting a forum for the business community on the Canada Jobs Grant, and inviting a Canada Jobs Representative to inform employers on the benefits of applying for the grants.
c. Gugan – Social Integration group applied for the Small Neighbourhood Spirits grant to support a Family Fun Day at Mill Lake for all ACS settlement clients. Received 900$ to host Family Fun Day, on July 13th.
d. Balbir Gill – New Library Champions Project at the library – Looking for Premanent Residents +19 years of age. Professional training will be given to 15 newcomers and they will volunteer at the library in various capacities.
e. Manpreet All Syrian families are now in permanent homes. Settlement staff is working on clearing up some misunderstandings around ACS’s role in their settlement. There is anxiety regarding to their loved ones in Syria, and language being a massive barrier to be independent.
40 Syrian individuals will be coming to Abbotsford between October and December 2016.
Diversity Education is starting a new project on food justice and civic engagement aimed toward young adults.
i. Ajay Kaushal – Fraser Valley Mental Health will take direct mental health referrals for the Syrian individuals yet to arrive.
f. Manpreet and Kanta reaffirmed a Mental Health Representative at the table as mental health is something that gets overlooked, has stigma, and is not available in some countries. Mental Health support for Syrian Refugees is very important as well.
i. Action Item Camilla will share Mental Health Resources with the council.
g. Sanjeev – Langley is facing similar issues to Abbotsford with Syrian families. United Way has funded a project to do a health piece in Langley for newcomers.
h. Lorne – MCC has been involved in refugee resettlement for the last 35 years. MCC has helped 1100 resettle in Canada.
MCC is expecting more Syrian families, and is putting out a Request for Proposal to assist with job employment programs and skills training for refugees across Canada.
i. Lia: Research Policy and Practice working group received Fraser Health Communities Grant to do a research project on health needs for newcomers. The research will be gathered from the settlement programs, Refugee Assistance Program (RAP), and focus groups to better understand health needs.
Social Integration group helped host a Welcoming Communities event on June 29th. The event focused on Islamophobia, and included a moderated panel discussion, with Muslim professionals in Abbotsford.
j. Kanta – Abbotsford School District 34 (SD 34) responded to Syrian students by creating four sheltered emersion classes in the beginning, trained teachers, and then structured slow integration into school schedule and public classes. The students took part in 3 weeks of summer school. For September 2016 school year, all students are fully integrated in 8 different elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools totaling 102 students. Due to a language and communication issue SD 34 has hired an internal Arabic speaking interpreter.
Biggest concern is mental health, and not creating a dependency issue.
k. Ruth – Provided a workshop on real estate for the Community Connection program (settlement program on social integration). Workshop discussed how to hire the right realtor, and expectations. Workshop was done in conjunction with RBC focusing on mortgage, and Notary & Simpsons focusing on legal process of buying a house. 12-15 clients attended the workshop.
l. Camilla – Worked with MCFD, SD 34, and Healthy Abbotsford on a research grant, on mental health, but did not succeed. Funder offered a webina, Manpreet Grewal, Sandy Blue, Camilla Boisvert, and Heidi Enns took part in the webinar. Possible training in November 2016, applications have been processed to attend training.
m. Sue – Social Integration group will meet before October 18th, and Sue is meeting with the secretariat soon. Sue has joined the Inter Municipal Diversity Committee, with municipalities all over the Fraser Valle and Lower Mainland, and learning about diversity and inclusion policies. A focus group for service providers working with elders will be held on October 13 10-12:30pm. There is a 2 year after school literacy program at Harry Sayers Elementary.
n. Nancy – Works in admissions with international students, lots of students from Punjab, India, look to become PR’s after their studies.
o. Nicola Mooney- UFV applied for a 25,000$ research project through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the research proposal was accepted, but did not receive any funding to do it. Currently UFV staff and council members are assessing the possibility of going ahead with the project with little to no resources.
p. Ajay – works within the Mental Health field from post discharge to acute care. The focus of his practice is being mindful of resiliency and sensitive to each situation. There is child and youth programs available, these programs can Syrian youth dealing with anxiety etc.
i. Action Item Secretariat to schedule a presentation about mental health and programs available.
6. Guest Presenter: Ranni Sangha-Tolman and Mary Finch, Job Connections for Immigrants Program
This program is a pilot project that runs from April 11th to October 21st, will find out after October 21st if it will be continued. The program has a few barriers for participants, English literacy level, E. I. status etc.
Participants took part in this project starting with 13 weeks of workforce prep including: English language and life skills training followed by 6 certificates through UFV. Participants were then placed in an 8 week practicum. Participants had never worked in a non labour intensive job before. They are all striving, 3 of 10 participants have received job offers.
Practicum placements are at Shoppers Drug Mart, Coastal Avian School, Quality Inn, Sussex Insurance, and Image Optical.
Job developer, Mary Finch, found she needed to create awareness to the employer community to help break down barriers for immigrants.
i. Ranni has joined the labour market working group
7. Next Meetings
a. Tuesday, Oct 18 2016 12:30-4pm
b. Thursday, Nov 3 2016, 2-4pm
c. Thursday, Jan 12 2017, 2-4pm
d. Thursday, Mar 9 2017, 2-4pm
Meeting adjourned 3:48pm
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